It’s draft day, and it has me in the mood to drop my one and only NFL Mock Draft of the first round, which officially kicks off tonight at 8pm EST.
So, here is my one and only Mock Draft, trades included. Feel free to share your thoughts, feedback, takes, criticisms, etc on my Twitter page (Click Here).
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Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
This is the pick, although the Bengals would be better served by trading down and collecting a bevy of picks to rebuild a rather thin roster.
Miami has tried to trade up, and it would make sense if the Chargers made a play. Still, unless something wild goes on, Burrow to Cincy is currently the surest thing in the draft.
2. Washington Redskins: Chase Young, DL, Ohio State
Washington can’t miss here. Sure, there will be talk of a trade down, and a tease of a QB being taken here, but it Young is a can’t miss, generational prospect that the Redskins would regret passing up.
3. Miami Dolphins (via Detroit Lions): Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
Miami trades up with the Lions, who receive 18th pick, 2020 second round pick, and 2021 second round pick.
Tagovailoa is the plan, and has always been the plan for the Dolphins. Tip of the cap to how wonderfully they crafted constant smokescreens throughout the offseason.
4. New York Giants: Tristan Wirfs, OL, Iowa
The Giants flirt with the idea of Herbert, and I wouldn’t completely rule that our because Daniel Jones is not tied to the new regime. Simmons is extremely enticing, but the Giants free agent additions, and their desperate need at offensive line for the past few years, makes a tackle the only sensible pick to make.
5. Miami Dolphins: Jedrick Wills, OL, Alabama
If Simmons is sitting here, don’t completely rule out the Dolphins taking Simmons, despite their need for offensive line. This would put the Dolphins in a tough position, and you can’t go wrong with either choice. I would also consider a trade down.
Okudah on the board as well, and that can entice a trade up from a team like Jacksonville, who are looking to dump Yannick Ngakoue and Leonard Fournette. If this mock plays out this way, watch the Jags make a play to give Miami their selection, Ngakoue/Fournette, to move up.
If Dolphins stay put, Wills makes the most sense after the selection of Tua. But passing on Simmons will be very tough.
6. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
Count the Chargers as a team that played the smokescreen game brilliantly. They had everyone believing they were a threat to trade up, but instead stay put and have, what i believe to be, their top choice fall in their laps.
Herbert isn’t polished yet, but he certainly can develop, and with Tyrod Taylor as a bridge, the Chargers can afford to be patient.
7. Carolina Panthers: Justin Simmons, LB, Clemson
Simmons falls to the Panthers, who need him more than any team ahead of them in the first round. Carolina has taken some serious hits on defense over the years, and they are a far cry from what they were, defensively, a few years ago.
Matt Rhule will love Simmons’ exceptional athleticism as he selects the cornerstone of the Panthers’ new defense.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Andrew Thomas, OL, Georgia
Jeffery Okudah continues to drop, and this would be a logical spot for him to land. Peterson is getting older, and has constantly been linked to trade rumors. While I went offensive line here, don’t rule out Okudah, who would give the Cardinals a successor to Peterson, and the opportunity to finally trade him.
Thomas is the pick here, but Okudah is also in play.
9. New England Patriots (via Jacksonville Jaguars): Jordan Love, QB, Utah
You didn’t really think that the Patriots were going to stay put at quarterback following the departure of Tom Brady, did you?
The Patriots trade #23, a 2020 fourth, and a 2021 mid-rounder to get Love.
10. Cleveland Browns, Mekhi Becton, OL, Louisville
With Thomas off the board, Becton is the choice. The Browns could also take a look at Okudah, who continues to fall, but their need at offensive line is too great to ignore.
11. New York Jets: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
The Jets see the run on offensive lineman, they got calls from the Denver Broncos looking to trade up, and instead stay put and select Jerry Jeudy who will give Sam Darnold a #1 receiver, and Adam Gase a new offensive weapon.
12. Las Vegas Raiders: Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State
The Raiders have been tied to wide receivers all offseason, and they were planning on taking one until Okudah fell in their laps.
With Jeudy off the board, the Raiders can land a shutdown cornerback and wait until #19 to land their receiver.
13. San Francisco 49ers: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Ruggs gives the 49ers offense an explosive threat with impressive speed that can take the top off opposing defenses.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Jones, OL, Houston
The Bucs could make a play for Redskins’ Trent Williams, so watch to see if that develops. But, if they stay put, then Jones could be the pick, given the run on tackles. Sure, it’s a bit of a reach, which could entice the Bucs to trade down or deal with Washington.
15. Denver Broncos: CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
The Broncos really wanted Jeudy, and tried their best to land him. However, Lamb isn’t a bad consolation prize.
16. Atlanta Falcons: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
Henderson falls right into the Falcons’ laps, even as they tried to trade up to nab him. Henderson could very well go in the Top 10, but with the run on tackles pushing Okudah and Henderson down, a team like the Falcons benefit.
17. Dallas Cowboys: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
The Cowboys add a top safety talent to their defensive backfield which needs a shot in the arm after the departure of Byron Jones.
18. Detroit Lions (via Miami Dolphins): Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
The Lions pick up draft picks, trade out of #3, and still land a cornerback with incredible upside. Diggs, a former wide receiver, brings athleticism, power, and exceptional man-to-man cover skills that will fit seamlessly into the Lions’ secondary.
19. Las Vegas Raiders: Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina
The Raiders land another Top 10 talent in Kinlaw provides an instant boost to the Raiders’ defensive front and his motor will make Raiders Nation fall in love the second he hits the field.
20. Jacksonville Jaguars: K’Lavon Chaisson, DL, LSU
The Jags could go secondary here, but with the pending departure of Yannick, they need to find his replacement.
Chaisson could go earlier in the draft, but this is the ideal scenario for the Jags.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
The worst kept secret in the NFL is the Eagles plan on drafting a wide receiver. They may attempt a bold trade up, which is not unlike Howie Roseman, but if they stand pat, Jefferson is the kind of player that will instantly boost their offense.
Blazing speed, great route running, and a natural feel for the position, Jefferson will form a productive due with Carson Wentz for years to come.
22. Cleveland Browns (via Minnesota Vikings): Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
The Browns trade Odell Beckham Jr. to the Minnesota Vikings and get a 1st rounder in return. With their additional pick, they take Aiyuk to replace OBJ on the roster.
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (via New England Patriots): A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
Now that they landed their replacement for Yannick, they draft Terrell to replace Jalen Ramsey. Terrell is physical, speedy, and has the versatility to help the Jags rebuild on the defensive side of the ball.
24. New Orleans Saints: Yetur Gross-Matos, DL, Penn State
The Saints can afford to wait until the second round to select a quarterback (Jalen Hurts?) and could be in play for Patrick Queen here, but the versatility of Gross-Matos is hard to ignore.
The Saints can play him at end or at linebacker, allowing them to capitalize on his exception skillset.
25. Minnesota Vikings: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
The Vikings have OBJ, and can now address the holes in their secondary, which has seen the likes of Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander depart.
Johnson has the size and cover skills to be plug-and-play.
26. Miami Dolphins: Cesar Ruiz, OL, Michigan
The Dolphins aren’t done building their offensive line, and Ruiz fills an immediate hole. Ruiz has the potential to be a Top 3 center in the NFL early, and with the Dolphins’ owning one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season, this helps them revamp.
27. A.J. Epenesa, DL, Iowa
Seattle doesn’t want to pony up the big money to sign Jadeveon Clowney, and they won’t have to by drafting Epenesa.
Epenesa is a hybrid pass rusher who can play along the defensive line, and who had impressive numbers during the last two seasons with Iowa.
28. Baltimore Ravens: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
The Ravens need to address their linebacker unit, and Queen range and athleticism will be a welcomed addition to that unit.
29. Tennessee Titans: Austin Jackson, OL, USC
The Titans could look at defense here, but nabbing Jackson is a more ideal fit. While he didn’t play his best in 2019, he has shown flashes of being dominant, and has the kind of physicality to fit the Titans offensive line like a glove.
30. Green Bay Packers: Zach Braun, LB, Wisconsin
The Packers need to boost their defense, and Braun is the kind of “do everything” linebacker that can be the cornerstone of the defense for years to come.
31. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco 49ers): D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
The Niners are likely going to trade back here, and despite the draft being rich with running backs, Swift should be the target. Swift will also be a target of the Jaguars, and for good reason, as he is drawing comparisons to Alvin Kamara.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
The Chiefs could also trade down, but a corner here makes a lot of sense. Gladney will be under consideration, as will LSU’s Kristian Fulton.